Rivers govt: Why we demolished Assembly complex

The Rivers State Government has explained the reasons behind the demolition of the State House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The Star had reported that the Assembly complex was demolished in the early hours of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, to the surprise of many Nigerians.

The demolition began shortly after lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara held a session on Wednesday morning.

Speaking on the development, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the decision to demolish the building was due to the structural defects which arose from the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.

Johnson stated after the visit of Governor Fubara to inspect the level of damage done to the building on the day of the fire incident, it became necessary to invite professionals to advise the government on the integrity of the building.

He said: “It would be recalled that on the night of the attack on the complex explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex which shook it to foundation. There were visible cracks on the walls afterwards, and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business

“After the assessment of the integrity of the complex, the experts warned the government that continuing to use the building in its present state would be disastrous.”

The commissioner noted that the state government tried all cost-saving measures towards the repair of the complex until it bowed to the superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice.

“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has provided an alternative venue for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex,” Johnson added.

The Star